Status and distribution Locally common in mountain areas of southern Europe and South-West Asia. Breeds in the Cantabrians and Pyrenees, the Alps from southern France to southern Germany and Austria, the northern Apennines and in the Balkans to north Greece.

Moves to lower levels in winter but otherwise a resident species.

Vagrants recorded in Hungary and Malta and at Cape St Vincent in Portugal.

Subspecies Nominate race occurs in southern Europe with race alpicola in the Caucasus, paler with brownish rather than grey head and more extensive black bib.

Habitat Rocky slopes and mountaintops, edges of glaciers and snowfields and alpine meadows with rocky outcrops and cliffs nearby.